The special court shall, prior to hearing any case under this chapter, direct the attorneys for the parties to appear before it, or in its discretion before a single judge, for a conference to consider:
1. Simplification of the issues;
2. Amendment of pleadings and filing of additional pleadings;
3. Stipulations as to facts, documents, records, photographs, plans and like matters, which will dispense with formal proof thereof, including:
a. Assessed values, if appropriate, and the ratio of assessed values to true values, as determined by the State Department of Taxation, in the county seeking to become a city, including real property, personal property, machinery and tools, merchants' capital and public service corporation assessment for each year of the five years immediately preceding;
b. School population and school enrollment in the county, as shown by the records in the office of the division superintendent of schools; and the cost of education per pupil in average daily membership as shown by the last preceding report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction;
c. Population of the county and its population density;
4. The method of taking any population census requested by the petitioner;
5. Limitation on the number of expert witnesses; each expert witness who will testify shall file a statement of his qualifications;
6. Such other matters as may aid in the disposition of the case.
The court, or the judge, as the case may be, shall make an appropriate order which will control the subsequent conduct of the case unless modified before or during the trial or hearing to prevent manifest injustice.
1979, c. 85, § 15.1-977.8; 1997, c. 587; 2010, cc. 386, 629.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 39 - Transition of Counties to Cities
§ 15.2-3900. Transition authorized
§ 15.2-3901. Ordinance petitioning court to declare eligibility
§ 15.2-3902. Moratorium on annexation suits pending transition to city
§ 15.2-3903. Notice of motion; service and publication; answer
§ 15.2-3905. Time limit for intervenors; publication of order
§ 15.2-3906. Pretrial conference; matters considered
§ 15.2-3907. Hearing and decision by court
§ 15.2-3908. Assistance of state agencies
§ 15.2-3910. Charter commission; appointment; compensation
§ 15.2-3911. Charter provisions generally
§ 15.2-3912. Optional charter provisions
§ 15.2-3914. Rejection or adoption of charter at election
§ 15.2-3915. Transition of county to independent city requires no action of town council
§ 15.2-3917. Certain cities not affected by chapter
§ 15.2-3918. Optional status of streets
§ 15.2-3919. Legislative, etc., district and judicial circuit not affected